EDITORIAL: For Petraeus, a fair outcome

David Petraeus was the most successful general the U.S. fielded in Iraq, the head of the CIA and someone so well regarded that he was once being talked about as a potential presidential candidate.

That all ended in 2012, when he had to resign his CIA post after revelations of an affair with his much younger biographer, reserve Army intelligence officer Paula Broadwell.

Now not only has Petraeus admitted to illegally giving Broadwell classified information that included the identities of covert U.S. officers, war plans and intelligence capabilities, he confessed that he lied about it to FBI agents and lied again to the CIA when he was asked whether he still had the material.

The misdemeanor plea deal Petraeus has agreed to — two years of probation and a $40,000 fine — would allow him to avoid prison and a potentially humiliating trial. It’s an appropriate outcome all around, one that avoids prosecutorial overkill but also demonstrates that the law applies to everyone.

When the criminal investigation first became public, we were wary lest prosecution turn into persecution of a former general whose service to his country had been exceptional. And we doubted that Petraeus had disclosed significant classified information, a view shared by President Obama, who said he had no evidence Petraeus had revealed information “that in any way would have had a negative impact on our national security.”

The investigation certainly didn’t show any intent to aid the enemy. And it’s true that far more information than necessary is classified. But Petraeus’ dangerously bad judgment left sensitive information vulnerable, and his attempt to cover it up was simply wrong.

The saddest outcome here is that someone who showed such outstanding leadership talents has been sidelined during perilous times. For that, Petraeus has no one to blame but himself, and his punishment is a valuable demonstration that no one’s above the rules — especially the head of the CIA.